Four-time Fifa World Cup winners Italy secured a 1-0 victory over Greece in an international friendly in Crete on Sunday, with head coach Silvio Baldini handing starting debuts to two teenagers of Nigerian descent, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.
Baldini included several promising youngsters in his squad for Italy's June international fixtures, among them Atalanta centre-back Honest Ahanor, Genoa striker Jeff Ekhator and Paris FC winger Luca Koleosho.
While Koleosho was named in the starting lineup for both matches against Luxembourg and Greece, Ahanor and Ekhator made their first starts for the Azzurri against Greece, with both players featuring throughout the opening half.
Ekhator enjoyed an impressive full debut and played a key role in the decisive moment of the game, providing the assist for Pio Esposito's winner in the 18th minute.
The Genoa forward delivered a cross from the left that found Esposito, who calmly converted to score the only goal of the contest.
Earlier, Ekhator had fashioned the game's first opportunity, collecting a pass from Comuzzo before dragging his effort narrowly wide of the target.
Koleosho was Italy's most threatening player at the start of the second half.
The winger first saw a shot deflected before striking the crossbar with a left-footed effort after being picked out by Fini, who had replaced Ekhator at the interval.
Despite making their senior debuts for Italy this month, Ahanor, Ekhator and Koleosho remain eligible to represent Nigeria's Super Eagles at international level.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
Discussions (0)